About UpsideBackwards

23 January 2017

Welcome! My name is Kate, and I live in New Zealand. Previously I used this blog as a way for family and friends in far-flung places to keep up with our family adventures. The children are older now, less keen to have their everyday lives documented, and some of the people I used to write for are no longer online. So I’ve decided to make future posts about my own adventures in crafting. There will probably still be the odd post about family happenings too though!

As far as crafts go, you can expect to see crochet, quilting, knitting (especially lace), perhaps a little spinning, some paper-craft, and anything else that might take my fancy. I love to try new things and learn new skills. Sometimes I don’t do anything with those skills once I’ve had a go, and other times I churn out garments or gifts for years to come.

I hope you enjoy reading about what I’m doing, and seeing the photos. You can also see my yarn projects on Ravelry.com, where my username is upsidebackwards.

Thanks!

Previous version, dated 22 June 2014:

My name is Kate, and I live in New Zealand with my husband and three wonderful children. We have lots of family and friends who live far away from us, so this blog is intended to keep them up to date with the mad goings-on in our lives, and hopefully amuse and entertain at the same time.

In May-June 2014 we are doing (have done) a Big Trip, seeing the world and catching up with far-flung friends. Most posts in this period document our adventures while travelling.

A truly wonderful side-benefit of having this blog is “meeting” people from all over the world who have stumbled across this site. Thank you so much for dropping by! I hope you enjoy the stories. I’ve made some greatfriends through this blog, someofwhomI’ve had the wonderful fortune to meet in real life. Some of them are listed in my blogroll, they’re all lovely people, so you might like to visit them too. Meanwhile, leave me a comment, let me know where you’re from and a little bit about you – the more friends, the merrier!

The children are (not their real names):

Pearl, aged 11, who sings in two choirs, is writing a novel in her spare time, loves to sew and has started knitting. A big thrill for her last year was starting some horse-riding lessons. She is becoming less of a drama princess and more a mature young woman. In 2014 she has started at Intermediate School, where she is doing very well and relishing the extra options like Latin and cooking.

Fainjin, 7, loves school, especially Art Days. He’s hoping to get back into Lego club on Fridays. He is sweet-natured, funny, stubborner than your average rock, and the fussiest eater I ever hope to encounter. He’s our Lego fanatic, although we all enjoy playing with it! If you’re curious about his name, it’s because he was obsessed with fire-engines from the time he could first point his finger until he was about 5. He will still wave enthusiastically to any fire engine passing by. Often the firemen wave back, bless them. Fainjin enjoys playing floorball and this year is learning to play the trumpet and ukulele. He also does tap dancing.

Babess, 6, adores her older siblings. She likes to pack a bag to carry wherever she goes, and falls asleep on a pile of books each night. She has taken to school with great gusto, and loves to write stories. She does tap dancing with Fainjin and this year has started jazz ballet too. She’s learning ukulele so she can play along with her brother – they’re a team. Cuteness personified and sharp as a tack.

Hi, I found you via the Sphors, as well! I’m excited to learn about New Zealand through your blog. I live in Atlanta, single mom of three who are all either in college or out of college but I do have a malamute puppy that I am mothering! What is the meaning of your blog’s name?

Wow, maybe I should write to Heather and thank her for the new readers! Thanks for dropping by, and even more for leaving a comment. When our eldest daughter was two, she used to say things were “upside backwards” if they were inside-out and/or back-to-front. We loved it, and were sad when she stopped saying it. When I was setting up this blog and trying to think of a name, my husband suggested I use “upside backwards” and I thought it perfectly described how our life has changed with three kids! 🙂

Hi Kate! My name is Sarah, I live near Seattle, Washington, and I found you on Twitter. I am a mom of 2 amazing boys, the younger of whom is autistic and he is the focus of my own blog. Do you mind if I ask if you are North or South Island? I am possibly moving to NZ in the next year or so and would love to know more from a mom’s perspective!

Yay I found your site again! I was the thesis student from a few months ago, my computer died and I’ve been trying combos of “new zealand” “blog” and upsidedownbacktofront insideout for quite a while now =) happy to have you back on my favourites list!